James Nicholls (footballer)

James Nicholls
Personal information
Full name	James Henry Nicholls
Date of birth	24 September 1908
Place of birth	Bilston, England
Date of death	20 August 1984 (aged 75)
Place of death	Dudley, England
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years	Team
	Darlaston
	Cradley Heath
	Sunbeam Motor Works
	Bloxwich Strollers
	Bilston United
	Blackpool
1932–1933	Manchester City
1934–1937	Brentford
1937–1938	Port Vale
Total
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

James Henry Nicholls (24 September 1908 – 20 August 1984) was an English football goalkeeper who played in the Football League for Blackpool, Manchester City, Brentford and Port Vale.^[2]

Playing career

Early years

A goalkeeper, in his early career Nicholls played for Darlaston, Cradley Heath, Sunbeam Motor Works, Bloxwich Strollers, Bilston United, Blackpool and Manchester City.

Brentford

Nicholls signed for Second Division club Brentford in the summer of 1934.^[2] Unable to oust James Mathieson from the side, Nicholls failed to make a first team appearance during his first two seasons at Griffin Park and instead played for the reserves, winning the London Challenge Cup with the team in 1935.^[3] With the Bees now in the First Division, Nicholls finally made his first team debut in a 1–1 draw with Huddersfield Town on 12 September 1936.^[4] He made six further appearances during the 1936–37 season, before returning to the reserves and leaving the club at the end of the campaign.^[2]

Port Vale

Nicholls joined Third Division North side Port Vale to replace the outgoing Allan Todd in June 1937.^[1] He made his debut in a 3–0 defeat to Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park on 28 August and played the first sixteen games of the season until he picked up a knee injury in December 1937.^[1] Nicholls recovered, but new man George Heppell had managed to establish himself in goal in the meantime, leaving Nicholls surplus to requirements. He departed The Old Recreation Ground at the end of 1937–38 season.^[1]

Statistics

Sourced from James Nicholls at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

Club	Season	Division	League		Cup		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Manchester City	1932–33	First Division	14	0	0	0	14	0
	1933–34	First Division	2	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		16	0	0	0	16	0
Brentford	1936–37	First Division	7	0	0	0	7	0
Port Vale	1937–38	Third Division North	17	0	2	0	19	0

Honours

Brentford Reserves

London Challenge Cup winner: 1934–35^[3]

References

Specific

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 214. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
^ ^a ^b ^c Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 116. ISBN 978-0955294914.
^ ^a ^b Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
^ "Brentford Football Club History". brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2015.

General

Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888-1939. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.

[kent-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 214. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

[:0-2] Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 116. ISBN 978-0955294914.

[:1-3] Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.

[4] "Brentford Football Club History". brentfordfchistory.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2015.

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